Pintle chain



c. K. JQHNsoN 2,452,242

PINTLE CHAIN Filed March 21, 1945 e .h/d 5 f m/ W@ y 2 M Z :WIM M3 4. I.. a 4| f/ M 2%. W M, i 5 fw.. //f f2 -1.. ,W bz ow/N a Z/ f/ /JbI K i Oct. 26, 1948.

Patented Got. 26, 1948 PINTLE CHAIN Clarence K. Johnson, Portland, Oreg., assigner to Electric Steel Foundry, Portland, Oreg., aA

corporation of Oregon n Application March 21, 1945, Serial No. 584,0081`r` 4 claims. (C1. 'f4-254) This invention relates to pintle chain and particularly to the construction and secu-ring to'- gether of the link-s of such chain.

For some uses it is important that a pintle chain shall be as smooth or streamlined as possible and devoid of the usual projecting parts and sharp cornersv which tend to catch and carry particles of material, as well as to make the chain hard to clean.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pintle chain structure, the links of which have smooth contours and which in assembly is free of projecting sharp edges.A

When pintle chain is adapted to uses such as in apparatus `for the processing of foods or where corrosive chemicals are present, it is desirable that the chain shall be non-corrosive.

The invention therefore has for another object the provision of a pintle chain construction adapted to be made entirely of a non-corrosive metal, such as stainless steel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pintle chain adapted to the working qualities and characteristics of stainless steel.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters -of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of three connected links which illustrate the construction of a chain embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the pintle chain structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the chain with the section taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

n Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View with the section taken substantially on a line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively end and fragmentary side elevational views of a part of one of .the links;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryplan view of a part of one of the links illustrating the structure prior to vthe completion of assembly; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of one of the links with the section taken substantially on a line 8--8 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrative embodiment of my preferred chain structure illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, the pintle chain includes a series of links I0 suiiicient in number to make a chain of the desired length and adapted to be connected to form a closed loop. .Each link I0 includesa tubular end portionrIZ having therein la boreh|3 which is lateral tothe longitudinal aXisof-the chain. The bore I3 provides a journal bearing upon which each link is rotatably supportedrelative to the next succeeding link. AAt each end of the tubular portion l2 is an integral projecting arm I4 extending longitudinally ofthe axisof the chain. The arm-s I4 have intermediateportions l5 spread outwardly so that substantially parallel end portions I6 thereof are separated by an amount suicient to straddle the tubular portion of the next succeeding link.

Near the projecting ends of the side arms I4, and in the parallel end portions I6 thereof, are aligned lateral bores I'I into which a connecting pin or pintle IB snugly nts. Each .pintle I8 extends through end-s rotatable in thel bearing proT vided by the bore I3 through the tubular 'portion I2 of the next succeeding link. In order to provide a smooth outer surface andto `eliminate une necessary projecting partsvso that the chainuis easily cleaned and has less tendency to kpick 4up and carry foreign substances, the ends ofthe pintle I8 are desirably flu-sh with the side sur'- faces of the parallel end portions I6 of the arms. Since the bore I3 of each link with the usual proportions of construction provides a considerably greater bearing surface area than would be provided by the aligned bores I'I at the ends of the side arms, it is preferable that the pintle I8 shall be secured to one or both of the side arms in a manner which will preventrotational movement of the pintle relative to the side arms as welljas preventing its axial movement in the assembled chain. In the disclosed embodiment of my invention each pintle is secured againstboth axial and rotational movement relative tothe side arms, by strong and durable fasteningmeans devoid of projecting parts or sharp edges and which in the final assembly leaves the smooth" Aand stream-lined contour of the link. v

Although each pintle might be secured at one end only, it is considered preferable that the end portion I6 of each side arm isdrilled as atl9 transversely of the axis of the aligned bores I1 and to a depth which extends across theboresl'l but does not go clear through the side arm. By preference the drilled hole or bore I9 is countersunk to provide a recess 2D in one edge of the end portion I6 of the arm. Each pintle vhas a transverse side slot 22 adapted to be aligned with each of the bores I9 to provide a pin-receiving passage for the accommodation of a holding pin 23 which fits snugly into the passage. y A

are desirably of a length such that when inserted into the bores i9, their outer ends are substantially nush with the inner surfaces of the countersunk recesses 20.

After the assembly of the chain in which the links are secured together' by the insertion of their respective pintles and the pintles are secured in place by the holding pinsf23,A the holding pins are welded in place by filling the recesses 2n with 4 fitting into said openings to secure the connectingpins against axial and rotational movement relative to said arms, and means flush with the outer surface of each of said arm ends for permanently securing the fastener pins in place.

2. A chain comprising, in combination, a series of links each of which includes a tubular portion at one end having a through bore providinga, lateralsleeve bearingvv and having arms integral therewith and extending longitudinally in one direction from opposite sides of the tubulari portion, said arms having aligned lateral bores at their extending ends and being separated at saidy extending ends an amount such that the tubular portion of the next succeeding link fits therebetween, said links `seing joined by f connecting'pins extending through said sleeve metal to an extent such that after the Welding operation the metal may be ground off smoothly to tnefeentur er the surface orties arm as meicate'd a't 12d: in'Fig'. 4f; f This not`4 onlysecure's "the holding' pin but` f-urtl'ier"p'ro'rnotes the smooth outer"v surfaces" andf'cont'ours of the links and cliai'n.`v`

'Inaddition tob'eing'sniooth and streamlined,

l the disclosed pintle chain is Well adapted to conof machining operations-difficult or undesirable,

the disclosed chain structure Veliminates or minimixes such operationsandis therefore well adaptedftomanufacture" from stainless' steel parts. Hence;` when the chain is to be :utilized for a pupose'fin 'whichthemen-corrosive feature is desired, 'all of the'parts may Well be made of stainless 'steel' 'andfthe Welding operations for securing theholding pins in place may be done with` stainless" steel welding rods.

While I hav'e'illustrated( afpreferred embodinient of my invention," many modifications may b efnad'e vvithoutdeparting from the spirit of the'irivenii'oan do not Wish to be limited. t0 the precise details 'of constructionset forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scopeof'th appended claims.

Hafl'n'g described 'my invention, What I clairi new' and' desire to` securev by Letters Patent of the' United States" ist n I1`.`Afchain.comprising, in combination, a series of ,links each of which includesa `tubular portion atone-1 -end having" a through bore providing a lateral sleeve' bearing and having arms integral therewith and extending longitudinally in one direction" 'from opposite sides of the tubular portion, said arms having! aligned lateral bores at theirkextending ends and being separated at said exte'iidi'gends an vamount such that the tubular portion of the-next 'succeeding' link fits therebetween, said links being'gjoined'b'y connecting pins extending' through said sleevejb-earings and bores ofidacent links," said connecting' pins being vrotatable" in said sleeve'bearing's' andlthe ends of said ,connecting pins beingV `substantially us'h Witiifthefutrsid'fsurfaces of said `arrns','the extending 'e`n`d's' o'fsai'd armsv having transverse bores' intersecting said lateral bores near" one si'd'e thereof, s d connecting pins having chordal slots adopitedo registerfA With said transverse bores to form fastenerpinopenings', fastener pins bearings and bores of adjacent links, said connecting pins being rotatable in said sleeve bearings and the ends of said connecting pins being substantially flush with the outer 'side surfaces ofv said arms sofas topresent a smooth outer surface, the extending" ends of said arms having countersunk"transverse bores intersecting said lateral' bores near one' side thereof, salidconnecting pins'havi'ng chordal slots adapted to' register' withl said transverse bores' to form' fastener pin openings, fastenerpins fitting into said openings to secure the connectingpins against axial and rctational movement relative to said arms, and said countersunk'bores being*r Welded over after'insertion of said fastener pinsrgtfo hold said pins non-removably in place', said Weld being fiush with the o'uter surface of said arms' so as to present a smooth outer surface that will not catch particles of material and foreign matter and willlalso be easy to clean.

3. A chain comprising, in combination, a" series of links each `of which includes ai tubular p0rtio`n,'one`end having a through bore providing a lateral sleeve bearing' and having arms integral therewith and extending longitudinally in one direction from opposite sides of the tubularportion',l said arms having aligned' lateralbores lat their extending ends and being separated at their extending" ends in an amount' so that the tubular portion ofthe next 'succeeding linkiits therebetween, said' links being' joined` by said connecting pins extending through said sleeve bearings and bores of adjacent links, said' connesting pins being rotatable in said sleeve bearings and the ends of said connectingpins being substantially' flush with the outer side surfaces of said arm's so as to present a smooth outer surface, the extendingV ends of said arms having countersunk transverse bores intersecting said lateral bores in a' direction such that the axes of the, boresare substantiallyv perpendicular and at a position such 'that' their outer surfaces are substantially tangent', said connecting pins-having chordal slots adapted to register with said transverse bores to form 'fastener pin openings, fastener pins fitting into saidopenings to secure the connecting pins against axial andirot'ational movement' relative to said arms, said countersunk bores being welded over after insertion of said fastener pins to hold said pins non-removably in place, and said Weld being flush withl the outer surface of said arms' so as to present a smooth outer surface on the arms; making the a'rrns easy to clean and preventing particles ofV foreign matter from catching thereon. Y

4. A chain comprising, in combination, a se- `neger links ea-chsorwhicn includeslatubular por'- tion, one end having a through bore providing a lateral sleeve bearing and having arms integral therewith and extending longitudinally in one direction from opposite sides of the tubular portion, said arms having aligned lateral bores at their extending ends and being separated at their extending ends in an amount so that the tubular portion or" the next succeeding link fits therebetween, said links being joined by said connecting pins extending through said sleeve bearings and bores of adjacent links, said connecting pins being rotatable in said sleeve bearings `and the ends of said connecting pins being substantially flush with the outer side surfaces of said arms so as to present a smooth outer surface, the extending ends of said arms having countersunk transverse bores intersecting said lateral bores near one side thereof, said connecting pins having chordal slots adapted to register with said transverse bores to form fastener openings, fastener pins fitting into said openings to secure the connecting pins against axial and rotational movement relative to said arms, said REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 892,965 Sevoik July '2, 1908 1,913,098 Alden June 6, 1933 2,082,315 Williams June 1, 1937 2,347,329 Morrow Apr. 29, 1944 

